ANWAR Ibrahim wants the government to reconsider its decision to cut the critical service incentive for 33 civil service schemes next year.

The matter must be discussed again in the first cabinet meeting of 2020, said the PKR president.

“The government must take into consideration the people’s worries and concerns,” he said in a statement today.

The Port Dickson MP said ministers should use cabinet meetings to share their views on the matter.

The Public Service Department’s (PSD) decision to cut the RM750 allowance for new hires has triggered a furious reaction from those affected by the move.

The department has assured that existing recipients will continue to get the incentive until they leave service.

“As for contractual service officers, they still qualify to receive the allowance as long as they are reappointed via contract continuously with no disruption in their service duration, up until the contract expires.”

PSD said it reviews allowances from time to time, adding that a report on the 1992 remuneration system stated that the critical service incentive should be reviewed every five years to determine its necessity.

“In principle, the allocation is not permanent and can be withdrawn when the relevant service schemes are no longer deemed critical.”

Since the allowance was introduced, it said, only three reviews were carried out, in 1997, 2001 and 2007. – December 26, 2019.